** This competition is now closed ** Do you want to become a travel writer? Have you always dreamed about getting paid to travel the world? We’re on the lookout for talented new authors for our online features section, and have teamed up with Journeys are made @ gapyear.com to give someone the chance to write for…

Few regions of the world have been idealised and mythologised as much as California – yet it seldom fails to live up to the hype. Among the finest jewels in the state’s crown are its magnificent beaches. There’s no better place to soak up the near-endless sun than along the coast, whether you’re there for…

Announcing the launch of the Rough Guides Travel Sense series that will bring destinations to life like never before. This week we’re excited to announce the launch of a brand new series. Featuring groundbreaking AccuScent technology, Rough Guides Travel Sense will transport you and your senses with just the turn of a page. State-of-the-art peel-back panels throughout the guide will allow you…

Picturesque Wales has long drawn holidaymakers to its unspoilt countryside, rugged mountainous terrain and long, lonely coastline. Whether you’re after a dream-like hike or scenic drive, beautiful views aren’t hard to find. Here are some of our authors’ favourites – walks, nature reserves, beaches, railway journeys and much more – taken from new Rough Guide…

From the new Pocket Rough Guide, we’ve selected some of our favourite tips for seeing Paris on a budget. A trip to Paris, famous as the most romantic of destinations, is one of those lifetime musts. Long the beating heart of European civilization, it remains one of the world’s most refined yet passionate cities. Yet…

Taken from the new Pocket Rough Guide, this is our pick of the best pubs in London. London is a very big city. In fact, it’s the largest capital in the European Union, stretching for more than thirty miles from east to west, and with a population of just over eight million. Ethnically and linguistically, it’s also…

Whether you’re dreaming of Berlin’s buzzing nightlife or want to write your own fairytales on the Romantic Road, you’ll find a wealth of exciting things to do and see in Germany. Here, we’ve picked 24 of our highlights. Explore more of the world in video with the Rough Guides YouTube channel >

We’ve just published a brand new Pocket Rough Guide to New York City, and thought we’d share a sneak preview. Want to shun the crowds? Here are five places to explore hidden New York. No superlative, no cliché does New York City justice. It may not serve as the official capital of the US or even…

Taken from the new Pocket Rough Guide, here’s our pick of the best day trips from Rome. Rome is one of the world’s most enthralling cities, and you may find there’s quite enough to keep you occupied during your stay. But it can be a hot, oppressive city, and its churches, museums and ruins are…

Ireland is a beguiling place: there are craggy coastal cliffs, lively pubs and history abounds. These are our favourite things to do in Ireland. Explore more of the world in video with the Rough Guides YouTube channel >

Once voted one of the world’s most beautiful countries by Rough Guides readers, Wales has something for everyone. From the mountains to the stunning coastline, here are our top things not to miss in Wales. Explore more of the world in video with the Rough Guides YouTube channel >

Taken from the Rough Guide to Europe on a Budget, here’s our pick of the best hostels in Europe. Europe presents an irresistible challenge to the budget traveller. From London’s Royal Parks and Amsterdam’s canals to İstanbul’s Grand Bazaar and the Berlin Wall, just getting tangled up in its sights is a huge draw –…

One of the world’s most beguiling countries, Iceland offers endless vistas of volcanic landscapes, black beaches, snow-topped mountains and one of the coolest cities in Europe. Here, we’ve compiled 17 things not to miss. Explore more of the world in video with the Rough Guides YouTube channel >

Taken from the new Rough Guide to Prague, here’s our guide to Czech beer – and where to drink it. The Czechs drink more beer than any other nation, downing approximately a pint a day for every man, woman and child in the country – in fact, more beer is drunk here than water. Czech beer (pivo)…

With waterfalls, beaches and wildlife galore, the Dominican Republic is an island paradise. If you need any more inspiration to plan a visit, here are 14 things we love about this Caribbean nation. For more inspirational travel videos, subscribe to the Rough Guides Youtube channel >

Last year we started Instagramming our way around the world, bringing you some of the best images from Rough Guides photographers as well as sharing your most stunning pictures. Together we’ve trekked to Machu Picchu, scaled the Cordilleras, floated on Inle Lake and kicked-back on a Dalmatian beach – but which were your favourite shots? Here…

It’s not just temples and tuk tuks, Cambodia has so much to offer travellers. From the delicious cuisine to floating villages, here are the top things not to miss on your trip to Cambodia. For more inspirational travel videos, subscribe to the Rough Guides Youtube channel >

On a weekend jaunt to Spain’s capital, Madrid, Rough Guides editors Andy Turner, Olivia Rawes, Greg Dickinson and Lottie Gross set themselves the challenge of staying up for 24 hours to discover what the city has to offer day and night. Here’s how they got on… 9am: a cycle tour of the city With just…

Singapore has many sides. You can take in Little India, Arab Street and Chinatown before heading for a cosmopolitan night out hosted by some of the world’s top DJs, or delve into the wild at a rainforest nature reserve and search for inner peace at holy temples. These are the top things not to miss…

Whatever your scene, from sweaty electronic music dancefloors to open-air beer gardens, Cape Town has it all. Being a hedonistic city – especially in the summer – Cape Town has plenty of great bars where you can drink and party, especially on Long and Bree Streets where it’s safe and busy, and there are taxis to…

Trekking in the Atlas Mountains, traversing the Sahara on camel-back, or surfing along the Atlantic Coast: Morocco offers a plethora of things to do and places to explore. Here are 26 of our favourites: Subscribe to Rough Guides on YouTube for more inspirational travel videos > Explore more of Morocco with the Rough Guide to…

From its tea plantations to its pristine beaches, and from its mountains to its modern cities, Malaysia has a wealth of natural beauty, distinctive art and delicious food. These are the top 18 things not to miss in this exciting southeast Asian destination. We’ve picked Malaysia as one of the top countries to visit in…

The oldest tourist destination on Earth, Egypt has a multitude of things to see and do. There are ancient pyramids, crumbling temples and vast deserts to explore – on foot or by camel – not forgetting the great river Nile. Find the top things not to miss in Egypt for your next trip. Explore the…

From the gorgeous coastline and buzzing cities to delectable food and delicious wines, there’s plenty to see and do in Spain. Here are 25 things you shouldn’t miss. Explore the world in video with the Rough Guides YouTube channel >

Food is one of the true attractions of China; eating might not be the reason you came, but it will be one thing you remember. And Shanghai can make a convincing claim to be China’s culinary capital. Upmarket restaurants starring celebrity chefs open every few months, while the diversity and quality of everyday, white-collar eateries…

With its sushi and sumo, pop culture and age-old tradition, serene gardens and traffic hell, Tokyo bombards the senses like no other city. Ordered yet bewildering, Japan’s pulsating capital will lead you a merry dance – but being lost has never been so much fun. The planet’s largest metropolis is Asia at its weirdest, straightest,…

Until the 1990s, Laos remained shut off from the outside world, and largely unknown to Western travellers. Since then, more and more visitors have come to discover that this landlocked country offers some of Southeast Asia’s most enchanting natural landscapes and a fascinating diversity of cultures. Although Laos still much less developed than neighbouring Thailand,…

From gorgeous Indian Ocean-lapped beaches to the wildlife-filled Maasai Mara, here are fifteen things you shouldn’t miss on a trip to Kenya. EXPLORE MORE OF THE WORLD WITH THE ROUGH GUIDES YOUTUBE CHANNEL. Explore more of Kenya with the Rough Guide to Kenya. Book hostels for your trip, and don’t forget to purchase travel insurance before you go.

A land of countless colours, intriguing cultures and scores of delicious foods, India is an exciting and beautiful travel destination. To inspire you to jump on that plane, we’ve selected 20 pictures of India to take you from the backwaters of Kerala to Ladakh’s soaring mountain passes. Palace of the winds (Hawa Mahal), Jaipur, Rajasthan…

Gourmets rank Turkish food, along with French and Chinese, as one of the world’s three classic cuisines. The country’s rich and varied cooking derives from its multi-ethnic Ottoman heritage – when it was part of an empire stretching from the Middle East to the Balkans and the Caucasus to North Africa – and food is…

From the countless majestic châteaux along the Loire to the sandy, sun-kissed beaches of the south, here are 26 things you shouldn’t miss on your next trip to France: EXPLORE MORE OF THE WORLD WITH THE ROUGH GUIDES YOUTUBE CHANNEL. Explore more of France with the Rough Guide to France. Book hostels for your trip, and don’t forget…

Colourful Australian slang, or strine, has its origins in the archaic cockney and Irish of the colony’s early convicts as well as the adoption of words from the many Aboriginal languages. And for such a vast country, the accent barely varies to the untutored ear; from Tasmania (“Tassie”) to the northwest you’ll find little variation…

Whether you want to fill your belly with delicious Punjabi dinners, relax on a sandy Goan beach or explore the Hindu temples of Tamil Nadu, India has something for everyone. Here are our top tips on things to do in India: EXPLORE MORE OF THE WORLD WITH THE ROUGH GUIDES YOUTUBE CHANNEL. Explore more of…

This competition is now closed. Please check back in the New Year for details of the winner. Always wanted to walk the Camino de Santiago but never had the time or means to do it? Now you could win a chance to walk part of this famous pilgrimage trail with the help of CaminoWays.com. Read on…

From the faded colonial grandeur of Havana to the lush, green tobacco plantations of the countryside, Cuba is a destination that exceeds all expectations. This small island off the coast of Central America is an endlessly fascinating place, and has plenty to keep a traveller busy. Here are 20 of our favourite things to do in…

Incredible scenery – from coast to mountain-top – amazing art and world-adored cuisine, Italy really does have it all. No matter how many times you return to Italy you’ll never be short of things to see and do. But for your first trip, here is our list of the top things not to miss in…

From the Arctic shores to the Rocky Mountains, there’s no shortage of stunning vistas in Canada. This huge country has a lot to offer the curious traveller, with great wildlife, beautiful lakes, engrossing cities and stunning beaches. Here are 19 of our favourite pictures of Canada. Sanctuaire Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, Québec Skiing in Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia…

The second largest country in the world, Canada has some of the most varied landscapes on earth, from desert to temperate rainforest to lush orchards. And then there are the great beaches , enormous glaciers and buzzing cities to explore. These are our top things not to miss in Canada: Explore more of the world…

Squeezing all of Australia into one trip would be impossible: there are mountains to climb, rainforests to hike through and vibrant cities to explore. Here’s our list of the top things not to miss in Australia, from the rust-red Outback to golden, surf-swept beaches. Explore more of the world with the Rough Guides YouTube Channel. …

From ancient ruins to beautiful beaches, Cyprus has a multitude of incredible things to see and do. Whether you’re after a challenging hike, fancy some wildlife spotting or want to go diving, this sun-kissed country will deliver. Here are our top things not to miss in Cyprus: Explore more of the world with the Rough…

There are hundreds of eerily empty buildings, towns and villages across the world, some of which are open for exploration. From an old Wild West town in the USA to underground nuclear bunkers, here are 16 rather chilling abandoned places: Explore more of the world with the Rough Guides YouTube channel. Book hostels for your…

From the travel greats to literary legends, here are 50 famous travel quotes to get you inspired for your next trip: Subscribe to Rough Guides on YouTube > Try out our travel lucky dip tool, book hostels for your trip, and don’t forget to purchase travel insurance before you go.

Which cities are going to welcome you with open arms? Where will the locals be likely to buy you a beer, and who’s going to invite you in for tea when it’s cold? We asked our social media followers to vote for the friendliest city in the world. These are the results: Explore more of…

It’s not always in the usual places we expect that we find architectural gems, kind people and stunning landscapes. There are hundreds of exciting but less-visited destinations across the world, and a few that have always been popular, but perhaps don’t get the attention they deserve. Here are 12 underrated destinations you should add to…

Whether it’s a smile exchanged with a stranger, a quick chat with a tuk-tuk driver or a night out on the town with a group of newly made friends, interactions with local people often shape our view of a whole country. So which places offer tourists the warmest welcome? This list counts down the friendliest countries…

Mexico boasts a mesmerizing coastline of around 9,330km, with millions of tourists coming here solely for the country’s exceptional beaches. The following have been selected as much for the scene – whether backpacker or spring-breaker – as for sand quality, water and scenery. Taken from the Rough Guide to Mexico, here are some of the…

With 7500 kilometres of coastline to explore, good beaches in India aren’t hard to come by. From the party sands of Goa to the bustle of Marine Drive in Mumbai, here are some of the best beaches in India. Chakratirth Beach, Gujarat The larger Chakratirth Beach, overlooked by a high bound, is a little to…

Planning a trip to Croatia and wondering which 17 things you shouldn’t miss? Always thought about Croatia for a holiday but never knew what it had to offer? Allow us to present our favourite things to see and do in the European gem.

Our green and boggy isle may be small, but one thing’s for certain: it’s home to some of the most magnificent landscapes in Europe, if not the world. Sure, our much lamented climate means you’ll likely get a soaking or three (four if you’re in Scotland), but with everything from coastal strolls to fearsome scrambles,…